Woman sees her house devastated by storm: 'I'm going to stay positive'

One Fair Bluff woman refused to leave her home during Hurricane Matthew. She's now picking up the pieces from the devastation she saw. (Source: WECT)

FAIR BLUFF, NC (WECT) -

When Hurricane Matthew came knocking on their door, some Fair Bluff residents decided to stay put, including Patricia Limber.

"I will not leave my house, I would never leave my house," said Limber. "I will go down with my house."

When emergency officials came to help her get to safety, she declined the offer.

"They said they would not come back for us I said that was fine, I will not evacuate," added Limber. "I will go with the tide."

As Hurricane Matthew swept through the area, Limber's house took a big hit. A large tree crashed onto the roof right above her bedroom and still lies there today. Limber said she will need to replace the roof but the problems don't stop there.

Limber's power shut off during the storm and that cost her several freezers full of food.

"The odor is horrific," stated Limber. "It's worse than an outhouse that has not been treated."

The flood water inundated the first floor of her house and destroyed prized possessions in her front yard. Despite this damage piling up on her plate, Limber refuses to dwell on the past.

"I'm not sad. We have our health and I have all my animals," Limber added. "That's very important to me."

After six years of calling Fair Bluff her hometown, Limber said the flood waters washed away much of the progress she's made. But she's more worried about the after effects that she now faces.

"The water, the ground is contaminated, the stuff is contaminated," said Limber.

The recovery process will be a long one for Limber but for every day that she wakes up and cleans her yard, she's one step closer to a better tomorrow.

"I'm going to stay positive regardless, I'm too old to give up," said Limber. I'm just too damn old to give up and too damn feisty."

It sounds just like the plot line of a television show- a woman naked and afraid, lost in remote woods. But Lisa Theris’ journey back to civilization was real life and a real struggle that lasted a month in Bullock County.

It sounds just like the plot line of a television show- a woman naked and afraid, lost in remote woods. But Lisa Theris’ journey back to civilization was real life and a real struggle that lasted a month in Bullock County.